If you’ve just gotten back into working out, you know how debilitating muscle soreness can be. You feel like you can hardly walk up and down the stairs; it hurts to sit down or stand back up. You are keenly aware of muscles you didn’t even know existed. Muscle soreness after workouts can be more than just a pain in the neck; they can also cause you to be vulnerable to injury as you overcompensate by using your body in unorthodox ways as you suffer through your recovery time.

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Better Than Pain Medication: Natural Ways to Reduce Muscle Soreness

We all know pain medication isn’t good for us. Some pain killers can irritate your stomach; others can thin your blood, making you prone to bruising or bleeding. Some pain killers are addictive, and most of them have unwanted side effects.

However, there are many natural ways to reduce muscle soreness, all of which are good for you and will help you get through that tough recovery time after a hard work out. Try some of the following the next time you push yourself too hard in the gym:

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Start with cold.

The cold will constrict blood vessels, reducing inflammation and blood flow. Wrap ice cubes in a towel and apply to your sore muscles for 10-15 minutes every hour for the first 24 hours of sore muscles.

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Apply heat.

After the first 24 hours have passed, start using a heating pad for up to 20 minutes at a time, once an hour for the next two to three days. The heat will increase blood flow to the sore muscles, promoting healing.

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Take an Epson salt bath.

The hot water works much as the heating pad does (increasing blood flow) and the Epson salts contain magnesium, which will both relax your muscles and provide mild pain relief. For best results, use one cup of Epsom salts per bath, and stay in the bath for at 20 minutes.

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Eat tart cherries.

After working out, eat one and a half cups of tart cherries. They contain anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce muscle soreness. If you choose to drink cherry juice, be sure to buy tart cherry juice with no added sugar.

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Consume turmeric.

Turmeric is both a painkiller and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Consume a teaspoon of turmeric powder either in food or a beverage. Many athletes drink golden milk, which consists of one cup of milk heated on the stove and combined with a sprinkle of stevia, one teaspoon of turmeric, a sprinkle of cocoa powder for a delicious warm drink that will help relieve your sore muscles.

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See a chiropractor that provides acupuncture treatments.

A natural medicine doctor will check your alignment to make sure nothing is being pulled out of alignment, and then will provide acupuncture to stimulate natural pain relief. See our article on how acupuncture works for natural pain relief here.

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Looking for a Natural Doctor in Huntersville for Sports Medicine?

Dr. Doyle in Huntersville NC has worked with athletes in many various sports, enhancing performance and supporting athletic endurance. Learn how you can tap into your body’s ability to heal itself and become stronger with an initial consultation. We look forward to working with you!